Too Late

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 17

Chioma woke up tired. Very tired. She has never been this tired. Few days ago, she noticed some strangeness in her body. It was as if there were sores all over her body. She had rushed to the pharmacy to get malaria medicine. It’s been a long time she treated malaria and perhaps what she is experiencing is malaria symptoms. So far, she had found no relief in the malaria drugs.

What Chioma didn’t know was that, she was under spiritual attack. She allowed her relationship with her husband to destroy her relationship with God. Chioma couldn’t remember the last time she prayed, let alone go to church.

This morning, she sat on the bed finding it difficult to breath. These past few days have been struggle for her. Despite the weakness and tiredness, she still goes to work.

She Managed to leave the bed. She prepared her son and herself for work. As she prepared, she heard a brother preaching so early and she was disturbed.

Chioma wondered why the brother was preaching on forgiveness when there are other topics to preach on.

She raised her curtain to see if she could see the preacher but she didn’t. Chioma hissed then dropped the curtain.

… God’s word says in Psalm 130:3-4, If you Lord should keep record of our iniquities, O Lord, who could stand. But there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared. This scripture made it clear that there is forgiveness in God to the extent that man is terrified. God forgives beyond human imagination. Do not say it is impossible to practice God’s kind of forgiveness in reality. Godly forgiveness is impossible without having the mind of Christ. Philippians 2:5 says, Let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus’. Having the mind of Christ is a yardstick to genuine Christianity…”

Chioma hissed again. She had made a decision long ago never to forgive her husband.

“This is not the time to preach forgiveness. Stanley will never know forgiveness. I cannot forgive him just like that. I am not Jesus. My name is Chioma and I am a human being”

She brought out her hand bag and threw few items she would need inside. In her heart there was no forgiveness for the man who made her go through hell.

Before she ran away from the house, when situation became tough, Chioma forgot her God. She never seek forgiveness from God at least for ever seeking a strange God.

She was bitter. Bitter that Baba Ifa couldn’t help her situation. Bitter that she couldn’t even clip Rosa’s wing. Bitter that she lost her son unexpectedly. Chioma had been blind to some of the strange things she sees in the kitchen, sitting room and bathroom. Black feathers, knotted pieces of black and red clothes. It never occurred to her to engage in spiritual warfare. Rather than stand firm in God’s word, she allowed anger, hatred and bitterness to swallow her. In those days, she would make declarations and decree goodness on her husband’s life.

Stanley had on several occasions told her, that he loves the prayer she prays and as a result, things were moving well in his office. Positions he never envisage, was handed to him on a platter of gold. Those who owe him started paying back. Chioma enjoyed her marriage, until few years ago. If she was spiritually alert, she would have known that Stanley was being manipulated. The moment she noticed Stanley was no longer taking his responsibilities serious, Chioma stopped praying for him and herself. She exposed her self and children the moment she stepped into the shrine. She fell into the trap set by Rosa. Traps of malice, argument and quarrel. If only Chioma had known the efficacy of her prayer,she would have been persistent.

When Stanley first brought Rosa to the house, he did it in Chioma’s absence. At that time, she was at work. Rosa insisted that Stanley take her there and he did. Rosa stepped out of the car, but refused to go in. She told Stanley, she wanted to be sure he has a house. Stanley did not know Rosa’s mission that day. She had enquired about his wife. From what she gathered, Chioma was a church woman.

Displeased with her findings, she wanted to see how protected the house was. But when she stepped out of the car, she saw how fortified the house was. When she told Baba Ifa, he laughed. He only told her to ensure there is disunity in Stanley’s home and Chioma would let down her guard. That is exactly what she did. She was able to stay in the house because Chioma became prayerless and empty.

As the preacher continued, Chioma glanced round to ensure she didn’t forget anything. Satisfied that everything she needs is in the bag, she left the house for school.

At school, she was uncomfortable. She feels strangeness and tries to focus until it was closing time.

———————————–

It rained so heavily. It started raining in the night and the cold was enough to knock off anyone into a deep slumber. For Charles, it wasn’t so. He couldn’t sleep. His thoughts travelled and settled on Elena. He refused to consider why he had a strong feeling for her and why the strong impact on his emotion. He knew he had fallen for her like a ton of bricks. Charles sat up in bed. He was worried that he had not set his eyes on Elena since she arrived four days ago. Her phone was now switched off and no response to the sms he sent. That means Elena was still in the hospital. He needed to visit her there and he needs the address of the hospital.

He made up his mind to see Elena’s aunt this time. He was not going to sit and assume all is well. Checking his time, it was 2:13am. He studied the bible and went into prayers. By the time he ended his prayers, it was almost 5:20am

He bath, dressed and left home for his usual one hour preaching. On this cold morning, Charles stood at the junction of a particular street and started preaching a topic he didn’t plan for. He had prepared to talk on Faith, but when he opened his mouth to speak, it was something different.

“…one reason believers need to be vigilant and prudent in their walk with God is that the devil is on the prowl, looking for their unguarded moment so that he can strike. 1st Peter 5:8 says, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom to devour. A careless believer can easily fall into satan’s trap and be dragged back into darkness. But when there is watchfulness, prayerfulness and prudence, the enemy cannot succeed in his bid. After conversion, believers become light and they walk in the light. Walking in the light means they do not carry on in their former lifestyle of sin, rather they live in purity and obedience to the will of God. Jesus said to his followers in Matthew 5:14, Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Contrary to Gods design, many believers are hiding their light under the bushel of worldliness and compromise. They fail to realize that their conversion to Christ place a double responsibility on them not to have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Believers life’s should be so transparent and radiant that sinners they come in contact with will see the true condition of their own hearts, repent of sin and avoid it’s present and eternal consequences”

Windows could be seen opening as his voice rang in the vicinity. The street was quiet as his voice travelled far. As he preached, tears dropped down his face.

“Walking in the light is closely associated with walking in love. Read 1st John 2:10-11. Anyone that harbours hatred towards another person is still in darkness in the sight of God and the needful step to take is to repent of them and begin to walk in the light…”

By the time he ended his morning cry, he knew someone has been touched by his message and heaven has gained.

He returned home, called his secretary that all appointment should be rescheduled. With that done, he left the house again to Elena’s. He knocked on the gate and it was an elderly woman of fifty that opened the gate. Charles greeted her and asked after Elena.

“Come in” She said instead.

“Elena was just discharged from the hospital yesterday. Thank God she is better now” She said opening the door and ushering Charles into the living room. Elena was carrying a tray to the dinning room when Charles entered. Excited, she dropped the tray on the table and rushed to hug Charles.

“This is my house both of you” She chided them.

“Ooh, sorry aunty” Elena said rolling her eyes and laughing.

Elena introduced him as a friend to her aunt. Her aunt welcomed him again, then left both of them in the sitting room. They looked at each other and smiled

“Easy” He kept telling himself.

“What happened to you” She asked pointing at the leg “My brother told me you came to the house and your legs are complete.”

He looked at his leg and smiled. He raised his trouser a little for her to see. She saw it and smiled. I am happy for you” She said.

“I waited for you…”

“I fell ill on the bus. I almost collapsed on the way, but thank God I am better now”

Charles stayed with her for two hours as she downloaded all her experiences at the camp and place of primary assignment.

He followed her every gesture and smiled where necessary. How he missed her laughter. She also told him how immense she was in the service of God. It gladdened him. He waited to hear whether there was anybody wooing her, but Elena said nothing of such. This also made him happy but at the back of his heart, he felt a cold chill. He had doubt whether Elena would find him good enough.